When Could Online Sports Betting Registration Return To Illinois?

Editor’s Note: As of Saturday, March 5, 2022, there is no longer a need to visit a retail sportsbook in Illinois to register for a legal online sportsbook. You can now easily create an Illinois sports betting account using your phone or computer.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker surprisingly halted mobile registration for the IL sports betting market on Friday, despite a rise in COVID-19 cases.

In order to open an online sportsbook account, users must now visit a casino, racetrack, or OTB site in Illinois that is affiliated with the online platform.

As of now, Illinois sports bettors will continue to operate under the current circumstances unless new legislation or an executive order is issued.

Here is the information we currently possess regarding the possible reintroduction of mobile registration and the potential methods by which it could be implemented.

• The Illinois House Executive Committee discussed various important gaming issues in the state, such as in-person registration. Learn about the supporters and detractors of online registration within the conversation about major gaming proposals.

Illinois may require an approved virtual license only.

After a mobile-only operator is licensed, we may return to remote registration. However, this is not expected to occur until at least December.

At present, all licensed sports betting operators have some connection to a physical location, but the law also allows for three licenses specifically for mobile betting.

As mentioned before, the problem is that licenses for wireless sports gambling will not be available until 18 months after the initial registration is issued. Additionally, each license costs $20 million.

On the other hand, master licenses are priced at $5 million.

The initial portable license was issued on June 11, 2020. In 18 weeks, it will be December 2021.

While the earliest possible date for issuing a license is considered, it is unlikely that it would be granted so quickly. Consider the following excerpt from the Sports Wagering Act:

The Board must accept applications for the first competitive selection process following the effective date of the Act within 540 days of the issuance of the first license. The successful bidders for the initial dynamic selection must be announced by the Board within 630 days of the first license issuance under this Act. The Board reserves the right to extend this deadline if needed.

There is even a dialect that allows the process to continue beyond March 2022, which is the deadline set by the 630-day limit.

While that is an important piece of the puzzle, we must also consider another significant factor.

Has anyone else attempted to purchase a license that can only be obtained online?

Illinois just has licenses, which is a concern.

It is evident that the Illinois sports betting market has not developed as expected.

DraftKings and FanDuel were able to avoid the 18-month “penalty box” by partnering with casinos and racetracks. This allowed them to become the top two operators in the state during Pritzker’s nine-month executive order.

With DraftKings and FanDuel out of the running for online-only licenses, the question remains: which operator is prepared to shell out $20 million to break into this market?

If another operator pays, it enables those who did not pay the $20 million to register online.

So, a new technician would have to pay four times more for a license than the recent operators in Illinois, giving their competitors a major advantage.

Perhaps there is a potential operator who is intrigued, although initially, the offer may not seem very attractive.

Which providers of sportsbooks may step in to save the day?

BetMGM and Unibet are currently waiting for approval as sports betting applicants.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois, Unibet is anticipated to receive access to the business through Argosy Casino Alton. In the same vein, it is probable that Par-A-Dice Casino will also provide access.

TheScore Bet has not officially submitted an application yet, but it recently signed a market access agreement with Harrah’s Joliet.

Identifying an outsider willing to pay $20 million for the mobile-only license is difficult, especially since all major US players are located in Illinois.

Bet365 presents itself as a potential opportunity that would necessitate a significant investment and backing for both current and future competitors.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be closely monitoring any actions taken by Illinois lawmakers. Specifically, we will be keeping a close eye on legislation related to online casinos and providing regular updates on any developments.